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; E. MARKWIGK.

ADI'U ssssssssss LADDER.

N0.292,.932. Patented Feb. '5, 1884.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

-E. MARKWIOKA ADJUSTABLE STEP LADDER. g- 292 932. Patented Feb. 5, 188'4.

PATE T OFFICE...

nnwnv' amnnwrcn, or rmcnnnr, CALIFORNIA.

A DJ UYSTABLE STHEP-LADD'E R.

SPICIFICATIbN forming pagt of Letters? atent No. 292,932, dated February 5, 1884.

. Application filed October 30, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, EDWIN MaRKwIcK, of Pinckney I. 0., county of Shasta, and State of California, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Step -Ladders; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful adjustable step-ladder; and it consists in a twopart or double ladder, hinged together at the base and mounted up on a single-wheeled frame, and having a back leg-brace in common, serving for either when in position; and inpeculiarly-adj ustable extension-legs connected with the device, all of which I shall hereinafter fully explain.

The object of my invention is to provide a ladder adapted for various heights, and which canbe readily adj ustedto any kind of surfacelevel, sloping, or uneve11and at the same time maybe easily transported from place to place, thereby fitting it for many uses besides those obvious ones to which a ladder is put.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my ladder when closed up and lying down in a position ready to be opened, with the wheel at the farther end. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same when the longer ladder is raised, the leg-braces drawn back and secured, the shorter ladder acting as a base, the whole device being in the shape of an acute-angled triangle. Fig. 3 is a view of the device turned overto throw the shorter ladder into position, the longer ladder being the base, while the leg-braces act in the capacity for the shorter ladder which they do in Fig. 2 for the longer one. of the ladder placed in position, as shown in Fig. 2, with the addition of the adjustable extension-legs, showing how the device may be made to conform to uneven ground.

A is the longer ladder; B, the shorter one; and C are the leg-braces. I

To the forward end of the shorter ladder (in Fig. 2) are secured side frames or legs, D, in which is a cross-shaft, d, upon which the lower ends of the longer ladder, A, are journaled, whereby the two ladders may be folded together, as in Fig. l, or opened out, as in Fig. 2.

The forward ends of the shorter ladder have mounted between them a wheel, E, while the rear ends are formed into handles 6, whereby Fig. 4 is a view sition shown in Fig.2. 'Upon thesides of this shorterladderareslottedlegsF,having ratchet: faces f, and a cross-head,G,to which, by means of pins H, the lower ends of leg-braces O are secured, asin Fig. 2. The slotted legs are guided upon studs h, upon which they slide.

Pivoted to the short legs a are bail clamps or pawls I, which are adapted to engage with the ratcheted extension-legs F, as I shall explain.

To use my device, observe the following (lirections: WVhen the ladder is folded up, as in Fig. 1, it may be pushed around on its front wheel to any point desired. To use the longer ladder, remove the pins H, raise the ladder A and legs 0 to position, draw back the legs 0, and

reinsert the pins through the cross-heads G into the lower ends of said legs. These logs, resting on the sides of ladder-l3 and secured by pins H,

fully brace and support the long ladder. The

device will then be as shown in Fig. 2, and may be rolled around from place to place with convenience. To use the shorter ladder, take it by handles c and turn it forward on its wheel un-' til the upper end of the longer ladder rests on the ground, its rear end being supported by the leg-frames D. This is the position shown in Fig. 3. Upon uneven or sloping ground, I use the extension-legs F in the following manner: Pull them forward on their studs, turn them to a perpendicular position, and force them down through the bail pawls I, which are turned in position to receive them. They can be set at any point by reason of the pawls engaging with their ratchet-faces, and, being in dependent of each other, one may be adjusted lower and the other higher, to make the ladder level, if upon uneven ground. If upon sloping ground, they can be adjusted similarly to produce the same result.

This ladder is useful in an orchard for picking fruit, or about the premises; or it may be applied to any other of the uses of astep-ladder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an adjustable step-ladder, the ladder A and the hinged leg-braces O, forming two sides of a triangle, in combination with a ladder, B, hinged to the ladder A, and adapted to be secured to leg-braces O by means of the leg F and'pins H, to form the third side of the triangle, substantially as hereindescribed. I

2. In an adjustable step-ladder, the ladder A and hinged leg-braces G, forming two sides of a triangle, in combination with the ladder B, hinged to the ladder A, and adapted to be secured to the leg-braces O by means of the leg F and pins H, to form the third side of the triangle, and a single-wheeled truck, upon which said ladder B is mounted, whereby the device may be transported and reversed to throw either ladder in position, substantially as herein described.

3. In an adjustable step-ladder, the longer ladder, A, andhinged leg-braces O, forming two sides of a triangle, in combination with the shorter ladder, B, hinged to thelonger ladder, and adapted to be secured to the leg-braces to form the third side of triangle, the single wheel E on itsforward end, the leg-frames D on its sides, and the handles 6 at its rear, substantially as herein described.

4. In an adjustable step-ladder, the ladder A, leg-braces C, and a base connecting the two to form a triangle, as shown, in combination with the independent sliding and swinging ratcheted extension-legs F on the base, and the pawls I, engaging therewith, substantially as herein described.

5. In an adjustable step-ladder, the ladders A B and leg-braces C, forming a triangle, as shown, in combination with the slotted extension-legs F, having ratchet-faces f and crossheads G, the pins H, the studs h, and the swinging bail-pawls I, all arranged and operating substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

EDWIN MARKWVICK.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES TIPTON, HUGH H. SHUFFLETON. 

